Democratic Party's First Ever Presidential Policy Speech 'Boycott' in Constitutional History

President Yoon Delivers Policy Speech at Plenary Session Without Democratic Party Attendance
Democratic Party Holds Silent Protest as President Yoon Enters

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the plenary session hall on the 25th to deliver the budget address for the next year. The Democratic Party of Korea has defined the prosecution's investigation into Daejang-dong as political retaliation and boycotted President Yoon's budget address. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Baek Kyunghwan, Naju Seok, Park Juni] The Democratic Party of Korea boycotted President Yoon Seok-yeol's 2024 budget address on the 25th. While opposition lawmakers have previously abstained from the prime minister's reading of the address, this is the first time in constitutional history that they have completely boycotted a presidential address without even attending.

Before President Yoon's address that morning, the Democratic Party held a party meeting and agreed to boycott the speech. Oh Young-hwan, the party's floor spokesperson, stated after the meeting, "All Democratic Party lawmakers will not enter the plenary hall today." The party held a silent protest on the Rotunda Hall stairs before President Yoon's entrance, condemning 'oppression of the opposition.'

The Democratic Party has declared that unless President Yoon apologizes for the 'vulgar language controversy' during his overseas trip, his remarks on pro-North Korean Juchesas, and the comprehensive investigations and audits by the prosecution and Board of Audit and Inspection, they will consider that he has no intention of cooperation and will refuse to attend the address.

In his address, attended by lawmakers from the People Power Party and the Justice Party, President Yoon emphasized, "Protecting socially vulnerable groups who suffer greater hardships during economic difficulties is a fundamental duty of the state." Focused support for the common people and socially vulnerable has been a consistent priority since his inauguration and is fully reflected in the 2024 budget proposal.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the plenary session hall on the 25th to deliver the budget address for the next year. The Democratic Party of Korea has defined the prosecution's investigation into Daejang-dong as political retaliation and boycotted President Yoon's budget address. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

President Yoon assessed the current economic situation as "amid global trends of high inflation, high interest rates, and a strong dollar, financial market volatility has increased and uncertainty has risen."

Jung Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, expressed deep regret to reporters after the address, saying, "I deeply regret the attitude of the main opposition party in dealing with the new government's first National Assembly address reporting on the New Year's budget in this manner."

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, explained regarding the silent protest before the address, "We thought it was better to express our protest in a more solemn yet restrained manner." Oh Young-hwan, the party's floor spokesperson, responded to reporters' questions about whether they watched the address in the party meeting room by saying, "We did not watch it at all."